Drop Dead: A Despicable Deadpool Sketchbook

Published Dec 11, 2017
By Tj Dietsch

Artist Matteo Lolli returns to scratch off Wade Wilson's bucket list!

“Killing Cable”—the murderous first arc of DESPICABLE DEADPOOL—planted a seed in Wade Wilson’s head. And when that seed grew, it became a list of allthe people the Merc with a Mouth wants to kill, maim, or generally annoy. Naturally.

On January 10, artist Matteo Lolli joins writer Gerry Duggan to check a few names off DP’s hit list. So who will they be? Stevil Rogers? Rogue? Madcap? And where will Deadpool end up when his affairs have been put in order? Find out as a new storyline begins with part one of “Bucket List” in DESPICABLE DEADPOOL #292!

We caught up with Lolli to get a few answers about what those on Wade’s list might think when the Regenerating Degenerate comes knocking.

Marvel.com: You’ve worked with Gerry many times before on DEADPOOL. How has it felt to get the band back together again for “Bucket List”?

Matteo Lolli: It’s always a pleasure both working on this character and working with Gerry, probably because each time, I discover new layers of personal conflict in Deadpool. And the “Bucket List” story has been no different. When I read the scripts I felt so bad for the poor fella, having to go through all of this because Gerry has no remorse going hard on him. But that’s what a great writer does to write a great story arc. He doesn’t go easy on the main character, and oh boy, Gerry really knows how to do that.

Marvel.com: It sounds like Wade has a hankering to take care of some unfinished business. Would you like to see him cross off any names of characters that you’ve worked on before?

Matteo Lolli: I’m pretty happy because I wanted badly to see the conclusion of the main grudge with Madcap. But I’d really like to see him meet Sabretooth again. I love how they can fight and not hold back in any way.

Marvel.com: How has it been working with characters like Hydra Cap, Rogue, and Madcap in the arc so far?

Matteo Lolli: Simply great. Each one has some deep link with Deadpool and his personal story that makes each of their appearances immediately interesting, even from a creator’s point of view. I really like Rogue’s relationship with Deadpool.

Marvel.com: Bucket lists tend to imply that the list maker might not have a long time left…does that thought weigh on Wade’s mind? Does that change how he behaves at all?

Matteo Lolli: I think he doesn’t care for himself anymore. I see him in a sort of quicksand; the more he tries to get out of it, the more his efforts turn out badly and he ends up going further down. Choosing to hurt someone to save someone else, feeling used, feeling there’s no escape—I think he’s coming to the breaking point. Actually, he seems like such a train wreck that I’ve rarely seen any other character this way before, and that’s what I think is the true tragically beautiful aspect of Deadpool.

Marvel.com: Sounds like Deadpool might also flirt with taking out Apocalypse. How do you go about crafting the image of an iconic villain like that?

Matteo Lolli: I’d fear for the poor Deadpool crossing his path. You know, his mouth moves much faster than his punches. As a comic artist, working on such an iconic villain would be awesome, but also scary and exciting at the same time. I usually feel there’s never enough time to get used to such important characters, but at the same time, the deadlines and excitement make me want to tackle them as soon as possible. In any case, it’s always a blast, so bring it on.

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The Despicable Deadpool Gets Ready to Kill Cable

Published Nov 17, 2017
By Amanda Ames

Scott Koblish on the Merc with a Mouth offing his pseudo-buddy.

On December 13, Deadpool kills Cable. Seriously, we’re talking end of the road, kick the bucket, lights out kind of dead. Sure, Stryfe made him do it, but can you really make Deadpool do something he doesn’t want to? Tune in to find out as writer Gerry Duggan, alongside artist Scott Koblish, reveal all in DESPICABLE DEADPOOL #290.

But wait, this tale packs more than just bestie drama, “I loved when the Dinosaurs poured out and attacked. I love Dinosaurs,” teases Koblish.

Marvel.com: First off, can you give us the run down on what’s going on in #290?

Scott Koblish: Man, I don’t know if I CAN say what happens in this issue! Gerry, Nick, Joe, Jordan, Annalise, Heather and I worked really hard on this book, and while there are some really intense scenes in this arc, this issue is a particular peak. It’s not called the DESPICABLE DEADPOOL for nothin’.

Marvel.com: Deadpool seems to jump back and forth across the line separating the morally good and bad. Murdering his buddy is safe to say a bad side move, so how is he dealing with this? Any justification for his actions?

Scott Koblish: You’ll have to make up your own mind if he’s justified in his actions. Wade has to make some really difficult decisions to be made over the next few issues, and even just as reader I am pretty shocked at where Gerry is going with this.

Marvel.com: How would you describe Deadpool and Cable’s relationship?

Scott Koblish: Homicidal.

Marvel.com: What are your 2 or 3 all-time favorite Deadpool and Cable moments, the highest points in their relationship?

Scott Koblish: Each interaction is severely complicated – if I had to pick favorites, I’d say their initial meeting in NEW MUTANTS and killing Hitler.

Marvel.com: What 2 or 3 moments across their relationship stick out to you as particularly gut wrenching, their lowest friendship moments?

Scott Koblish: I kinda feel like it’s NEVER been a good relationship.

Marvel.com: How is the tone of the book translated in the art?

Scott Koblish: I’ve been working really hard at trying to make the book look as gritty and disturbing – this particular story demanded a rough touch in the art.

DESPICABLE DEADPOOL #290

Marvel.com: Any twists or surprises heading our way that you want to tease?

Scott Koblish: No, too much relies on surprise right now. Mum’s the word.

Marvel.com: What can we expect for Deadpool moving forward?

Scott Koblish: Awful, awful things.

Catch the final downfall of Deadpool and Cable in DESPICABLE DEADPOOL #290 by writer Gerry Duggan and artist Scott Koblish when it hits shelves on December 13.

Listing Deadpool’s most immoral moments ever ahead of Marvel Legacy!

Wade has been trying to play the hero—with limited success—for far too long. Now he breaks bad again, Deadpool style.

“It’s hard to blame Wade for the events that precipitated Secret Empire. He got all the credit for the bad things he did, and none of the props for the decent stuff,” explains Duggan, “Wade had done so much wrong before he ever heard Cap say the words ‘Hail Hydra’ that once he did he was already stuck on his side. Now his life has burned down. Sad!”

To prepare for this wicked road trip, we took time to highlight some of Deadpool’s more questionable stops in his recent history…“Like that time he uppercutted Kitty,” suggests Duggan. And with that, we’re off!

Weirdo zombie presidents attempt to take over the world, so S.H.I.E.L.D. decides to send Deadpool to hunt them down in an attempt to avoid the PR nightmare of, say, Captain America publically beating down our beloved former leaders.

In this issue, he finds Teddy Roosevelt doing what he does—big game hunting in the treacherous wilds of the Los Angeles Zoo—and…long story short, Deadpool sets a live elephant on fire. In his defense he did warn the elephant first! Sort of!

The demon Ventis hires—cough, blackmails, cough—Deadpool into killing people on his behalf. Wade gets hot on the trail of a victim when he runs into the devil of Hell’s Kitchen.

The two don’t exactly see eye-to-eye and Daredevil succeeds in hogtying the Regenerating Degenerate. However, he makes the mistake of thinking that Deadpool plays by the rules (tisk-tisk, Matt!), allowing Wade to up and shoot a random guy on the street to escape. Solid distraction but dang, that’s cold.

Less hurting-random-people-and-animals and more standard bad parenting for this one. Madcap wants Wade to suffer and threatens to kill his daughter, Ellie, to make it so. In response, Wade beats him to the punch and deliberately uses his daughter like chum in the water to bait Madcap into the open. Luckily, Quicksilver manages to get Ellie out of harm’s way at the last moment.

Come on, Wade. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up with a morally-ambiguous, violence-desensitized kid on your hands. Break the cycle, dude!

Let’s just breeze right over this one; we all remember DEADPOOL KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE. You can’t forget the crazed mercenary shooting Spidey in the face, making it rain hero chunks after blowing up the Avengers Mansion, and of course, the piéce de résistance, turning Beast into a fur cape.

Oh and of course there’s DEADPOOL KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE AGAIN (2017)—because if there’s one thing Deadpool excels at, it’s beating a dead horse…or just dead bodies of any kind, really.

With everyone in the Marvel Universe six feet under, Deadpool branches out into new fictional timelines to find new victims in DEADPOOL KILLUSTRATED. With the help of his enslaved mad scientist core, Wade finds a way into some of our favorite storylines to do what he does best: murder everything that moves. I guess he gets points for not discriminating? His victims include Moby Dick, Tom Sawyer, Dracula, “The Jungle Book” animals, the Three Musketeers, and basically every other literary character you ever read about in school. English teachers, avert thine eyes!

Deadpool keeps a blind old woman as a prisoner! But that’s not all! After finding an opportune moment to escape, the woman—named Blind Al—runs away to Maine to hide out with a friend named Tommy, in the belief that Wade won’t be able to track her there. But after a 3,000 mile journey, Blind Al arrives at Tommy’s house only to find Wade waiting inside with a mutilated Tommy—a next level psychopath ploy to ensure that Al stays with him of her own accord.

And people call this guy a hero!?

Find out what depraved deeds Deadpool adds to his list of indiscretions in DESPICABLE DEADPOOL #288, by writer Gerry Duggan and artist Scott Koblish, on October 25!

Written by Gerry Duggan with art by Scott Koblish, Stryfe seeks payment for services rendered. It’s a life for a life—Deadpool owes him four—and the first name on the mutant clone’s list won’t surprise anyone: Cable.

Now Wade, having recently reached higher highs than ever before, hits rock bottom as he’s forced to kill his way out—or face the deadly consequences. Notes Duggan, “He’s putting his head down and just doing what he owes in order to get out of this. He’s not really looking to be very clever at this moment.” The grim circumstances have forced the Merc with a Mouth to recede to just a Merc.

When the thought of reneging on his debt crosses Wade’s mind, he receives an immediate rebuke—if he doesn’t hold up his end of the bargain, the Preston family, and maybe his daughter Ellie, will pay the price. Outsmarting an evil time traveler has to be even harder than it sounds, especially on your own; “There really is no one left that will trust him. He used to be a member of an Avenger squad and unfortunately that’s over. His marriage is over. A lot of his friendships are done,” explains Gerry.

So, has Wade Wilson completely resigned himself to this bleak fate? Gerry doesn’t seem so sure: “Even though Wade seems like he’s still doing terrible things—and he is—he’s still doing honorable things, so that still acts as his motivation.”

Duggan continues, “We spent a lot of years building him up and we’re destroying him in quick time. We’ll see what he has left after we strip everything away, it will be interesting to see what survives of the character after this.”